Homeland star David Harewood has revealed he was sectioned after suffering a breakdown during his 20s.
The actor joined a number of celebrities speaking out on World Mental Health Day and encouraging people to open up if they are struggling.
Harewood wrote in a post on Twitter: “It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay today. As someone who had a breakdown and was sectioned in my 20’s I’m here to tell you that there’s no shame in talking about it if your struggling.
“I haven’t done too bad since! Go easy on yourself today, and get some help if you can.”
So.. it’s #WorldMentalHealthDay today. As someone who had a breakdown and was sectioned in my 20’s I’m here to tell you that there’s no shame in talking about it if your struggling. I haven’t done too bad since! Go easy on yourself today, and get some help if you can. X pic.twitter.com/dhLOBN9FQV
— David Harewood (@DavidHarewood) October 10, 2017
Demi Lovato, The xx, Lady Gaga and a number of other stars also took to social media to promote the day of awareness.
I feel fortunate to be a part of such an incredible team focused on mental health & providing help to those in need. #WorldMentalHealthDay
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) October 10, 2017
YAY! Today’s #WorldMentalHealthDay 🎉🎈Just a reminder I invite u to meditate/quietmind/pray on Instagram Live w/ me @4pm PST @btwfoundation pic.twitter.com/dTsZc9kWOG
— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) October 10, 2017
The xx shared an emotional message on Instagram documenting their own struggles in opening up to each other.
The trio wrote: “The 3 of us are best friends, we have grown up together but even so sometimes we have found it hard over the years to really open up and talk to each other when things were troubling us.
We are so grateful for songwriting as it has given us a place to pour our emotions into. Sometimes we’ve said things to each other in a song, before we felt brave enough to say it out loud.”
“Having the songs as a talking point have given us the opportunity to open up. Since we started really talking to each other about how we feel and what we are going through, there has been a new closeness between us.”
They added that it had inspired the name of their latest album, I See You, which is how they now see each other with more empathy after opening up about their issues.
.@dualipa talking about the importance of mental health and #WorldMentalHealthDay at her show tonight pic.twitter.com/tcWIjTPk15
— rach is gay 💀 (@rachyymarshall) October 10, 2017
And singer Dua Lipa told fans at a gig to “speak to friends” if they ever struggled with mental health issues, footage posted online showed.